Page 39 of Dancing On Air

“I talked to the undertaker who told me where you lived.”

“Well, turn around and leave quickly before anyone sees you here.” Connor swished his hands in the air, trying to get her to go.

“Nay, I won’t,” she answered stubbornly.

“Dammit, Eleanor, you shouldn’t be here, and you know it. Now go.”

“I brought some things for you and your family. They are in the wagon. Please don’t send me away.”

“Father, get some rest,” said Connor. “I’ll be back shortly.” He covered his father with a light blanket and guided his brother and Eleanor from the room. “What is this all about?” he asked Eleanor.

“Please don’t be angry that I’m here.”

“Well, I’m not happy about it. This is no place for you or your cousins. I told you not to come.”

“She has food for us,” said Leoric. “Don’t send her away.”

“How is your father?” asked Eleanor.

“He’s been better. Let’s talk outside so he can get some rest.”

As soon as they made their way outdoors, he saw his younger brother and sister talking with Lady Raven and Lady Lark. They stood next to the wagon.

“What did you bring us?” asked little Alaric. “More apples for pie?”

“Well, I think we’ll let Lady Eleanor tell you,” said Raven, as Eleanor and Connor approached the back of the wagon. There were some things in the back covered by a blanket. The cart was also filled with hay.

“I hope you like what I brought,” said Eleanor.

Connor noticed the blanket moving. “I think someone is hiding in the wagon.” He hopped up on the back, reaching underneath the hay and pulling out a boy by the front of his tunic.

“You!” shouted Connor. “Trying to steal from me again?”

“Finnian!”gasped Eleanor, surprised to see the boy hiding in her wagon. She’d had no idea he was there.

“Don’t hurt me, hangman. I was just trying to sneak out of town.” Finnian held a pear in his hand, with a bite taken out of it.

“Your father is looking for you, Finnian,” said Eleanor. “He and your mother are very worried.”

“No, they aren’t. I heard Tom tell you that he wished he never took me in, and I heard you say that you were going to try to find another family for me,” said the boy.

Well, there was no hiding the truth now, since he already knew. Still, Eleanor didn’t feel comfortable speaking about this right now.

“Connor, please, let him go,” said Eleanor.

“Why should I?” asked Connor. “This boy is nothing but trouble.”

“Nay, he’s not. He’s a good boy, just confused, and not sure how to behave,” protested Eleanor, feeling attached to each and every orphan that she’d cared for and placed in homes.

“Were you stealing again?” Connor asked the boy, but Finnian didn’t answer. Next, he looked over to Eleanor. “Was he?” She couldn’t lie to him. If she did and he found out, he’d never speak to her again.

“Yes, he did. From several townspeople and they are not happy,” she reported.

“They blame everything on me, even if I didn’t do it,” cried Finnian. He still looked very scared.

“That’s because, I’ll bet, most of the time you’re responsible for the crimes,” Connor ground out.

“Finnian, go home,” said Eleanor.